The Town FilesIndian River, Michigan
Community in Cheboygan County · population 1,950 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $314,100
- Household income
- $62,140
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 106 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 62.7
Indian River is a community of 1,950 people in Cheboygan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $314,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 85% of Michigan towns, hipper than 82% of Michigan towns, quieter than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Indian River ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Indian River is worth $314,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $62,140, which is more affordable than 2% of Michigan towns. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Indian River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $314,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,140 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.6% | — |
Who lives in Indian River
| People | Indian River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 8.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Indian River
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 8.9°F. About 30.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 105.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Indian River since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on October 2, 1970 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 2, 1970.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Cheboygan County since 1996
Cheboygan County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Cheboygan County
Cheboygan County had 6,140 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,915 a year. Unemployment was 8.2% in 2023; in Indian River itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Indian River
3 public schools with 712 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Lakes Secondary School | 6-12 | 338 | 16.9 |
| Inland Lakes Elementary School | K-5 | 303 | 15.2 |
| COP ESD Programs | PK-12 | 71 | 3.0 |
Towns near Indian River
- Tuscarora, MI0.8 mi · 3,080 people · home $253,700
- Koehler, MI4.8 mi · 1,193 people · home $155,800
- Mullett, MI6.3 mi · 1,236 people · home $276,100
- Burt, MI6.4 mi · 710 people · home $537,700
- Ellis, MI7.0 mi · 557 people · home $244,200
- Mentor, MI7.5 mi · 857 people · home $179,600
- Littlefield, MI7.9 mi · 3,200 people · home $256,500
- Alanson, MI8.0 mi · 778 people · home $134,100
Indian River questions
Is Indian River, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Indian River scores better for retirees than 71% of Michigan towns and quieter than 80%. 44.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.7).
How much does a house cost in Indian River?
The median owner-occupied home in Indian River is valued at $314,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,140, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Indian River?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 8.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.0 inches of precipitation a year and 105.5 inches of snow.
Does Indian River get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Indian River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on October 2, 1970. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)